The Senate on Tuesday said it has no petition before it to warrant any legislative intervention in the controversy surrounding the alleged non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC and its purported Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), stated this while briefing journalists after plenary at the National Assembly.
The controversy has dominated public discourse in recent weeks following a public exchange between the alleged Director-General of the PFIPC and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
While the Chief of Staff disowned both the agency and its purported Director-General, describing them as unknown to the Presidency, Adeyemi insists that the agency exists and is recognised by the Presidency.
He further alleged that Gbajabiamila collected ₦400 million from him to facilitate his appointment and demanded 48% of the ₦1.3 billion reportedly appropriated to the agency in the 2026 Budget.
Responding to questions on the Senate’s position, Adaramodu said the Red Chamber has not received any petition from the feuding parties or any concerned Nigerian seeking its intervention.
According to him, in the absence of any formal petition, the Senate has no basis to comment on or investigate the matter.
He acknowledged reports that the agency has a budgetary allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act but maintained that the controversy originated within the Executive and should be resolved by the appropriate authorities.
The Senate spokesperson also noted that the matter is already before the courts, stressing that the Senate would not interfere in issues that are subjudice.
He further clarified that the National Assembly neither created nor inserted the budget line for the agency, adding that it is not the responsibility of the Senate or the House of Representatives to conduct security or background checks on individuals appointed to head Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
According to him, if the individual involved had been a presidential nominee requiring Senate confirmation, the upper chamber could have been directly concerned.
He stated that if a petition is formally submitted to the Senate by any of the parties involved or by any concerned Nigerian regarding the existence or otherwise of the agency or its Director-General, the matter will be considered in line with legislative procedures
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
